Usnea mutabilis is a grayish-yellowish pale green, unequally branching, shrubby (fruticose) 3–7 cm long lichen commonly anchored on holdfasts on trees, mostly in eastern North America, sometimes in chaparral shrubs or pines in California.[1]: 212 It is darker green than other members of the genus Usnea.[1]: 212 The surface is covered with isolated, or clusters of, isidia.[1]: 212 It lacks apothecia.[1]: 212
The common name is bloody beard lichen.[1]: 212 The thick axis and medulla are dull red.[1]: 212
Usnea mutabilis is a grayish-yellowish pale green, unequally branching, shrubby (fruticose) 3–7 cm long lichen commonly anchored on holdfasts on trees, mostly in eastern North America, sometimes in chaparral shrubs or pines in California.: 212 It is darker green than other members of the genus Usnea.: 212 The surface is covered with isolated, or clusters of, isidia.: 212 It lacks apothecia.: 212
The common name is bloody beard lichen.: 212 The thick axis and medulla are dull red.: 212